Category Archives for "Sheila Hellermann | Just Don’t Ask Me to Sing"

A trip through any store in the last few weeks will remind you it is Valentine’s Day. For such a minor holiday (relative to those like Easter and Christmas), the stores and advertisements are sure counting on this one for sales. I read that Valentine’s Day spending nationwide is expected to reach $27.4 billion this […]

A little over a year I chose “behold” as my word of the year. For 2021 I am choosing “stillness.” Similar? Yes, in some ways, but very different in others. I pray in the morning. On New Year’s Day morning, I woke up early and before leaving to run, I prayed and resolved to spend […]

Often we reflect on how Jesus’ birth changed everything and how Jesus’ crucifixion changed everything. But, maybe this year, we need to give a little more time to how neither of those things were possible without Mary’s yes. As we just celebrated the Immaculate Conception, think about it. Without Mary’s willingness to do God’s will, […]

There are still things to be thankful for. It is hard some days with Covid-19, a difficult election season and deep divides separating people. So for a few days, I decided to think intentionally about it. As Thanksgiving approaches (which is normally my favorite holiday, but admittedly I am struggling this year), I share my […]

Since its release, I had seen bits and pieces of the new Encyclical Letter from Pope Francis, “Fratelli Tutti.” I was more and more intrigued, and I could not resist sitting down and diving deeper. It is powerful. It is timely. It is important. Ironically it was the same week I watched “Social Dilemma” on […]

Behind the mask there is a recent high school senior who is excited to be packing and moving to college, but apprehensive because college has limited visitors and has cut out the breaks and long weekends, encouraging students not to go home. Behind the mask there is a soon-to-be bride not excited that her family […]

As this pandemic has continued on, and I continue working from home, I noticed I was restless, like something was missing. I could not place what it was. One day I finally had to go into the office to get mail, make some copies, pick up packages, etc. and I figured it out. I drive […]

On March 27 in Rome, Pope Francis addressed God and said, “It is not the time of your judgment, but of our judgment; a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not.” Pope Francis wants us to use this pandemic as an opportunity. […]

On Ash Wednesday we heard, “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” I have spent time this Lent reflecting on that, and searching for its meaning. If you presume that it means we that we are nothing but dirt and lowly, it can be depressing to consider. But that is not […]

Father Joe Korf began his homily for the first Sunday of Advent with those forceful words. Matthew’s gospel is bold, direct, and, for me, especially relevant. “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Father Korf continued, warning us that we never know when God will call us […]